Saturday

FLETCHER — Area residents swarmed Bill Moore Community Park on a picture-perfect Saturday to celebrate the town’s 30th anniversary, a five-hour bash that culminated with a 20-minute fireworks display.

While kids got their faces painted, made bracelets and sat behind the wheels of tractors, police cars and fire trucks placed on display, adults played Bingo, bought commemorative T-shirts and kicked up their heels to music by retro-rock band Flashback.

Mayor Rod Whiteside gave a brief speech before serving slices of birthday cake to celebrate three decades of what is now North Carolina’s 97th largest municipality.

Whiteside said he was proud to be Fletcher’s mayor, and that the town recently has undergone a facelift by adding new sidewalks, new street lights and a clock tower.

“The clock tower will serve as a constant reminder that there is no better place to pass the time than right here in this town that can be found at the intersection of family and fun,” he said. “I know that together, we are looking forward to 30 more years of community, of caring, and of course, eating a lot of cake.”

Fletcher resident Valentina Derrick was among several people who had nothing but nice things to say about the town and its commitment to staging family-oriented events such as Saturday celebration, which coincided with its annual Family Day.

“A small town needs something like this,” said Derrick, whose sons, Jacob and Coleman, attend Fern Leaf Elementary School across from the 60-acre park. “It’s a nice, community event; we come here almost every year.”

Whiteside, a Fletcher resident since 2011, said earlier that the town’s population has grown by 16 percent — to an estimated 8,336 people — since the 2010 U.S. census, and that he expects commercial growth to continue at a steady pace as well.

“Fletcher is relatively new compared to surrounding municipalities, but I would say that it has just as much — and actually, even more — to offer,” he said. “I’m glad to be a part of a town that is in the midst of growing, thriving and making its own mark in the local area.”

The recent addition of O’Reilly’s and Advance auto parts stores, The Garage on 25 coffee house and The Groves at Town Center, a 168-unit apartment complex adjacent to Bill Moore Community Park, are evidence of the town’s prosperity.

Much of the growth can be attributed — at least in part — to Bill Moore Community Park. For nearly two decades the mostly level park that features walking trails, a dog park, picnic areas, a youth sports complex and an outdoor fitness center was known simply as Fletcher Park, but was renamed in late 2017 after former longtime mayor Bill Moore, an avid proponent of outdoor recreation.

“It’s our crown jewel,” Whiteside said. “I believe that’s one of the things that’s put Fletcher on the map. Our parks and rec operation is absolutely a draw for residents and businesses alike because of what it offers.”

The mayor also said he plans to continue encouraging residents to become more engaged in local government by holding “Meet the Mayor” sessions to better connect with residents.

“It absolutely is validation (that the need exists) every time I hear someone say, ‘I didn’t know Fletcher had a mayor,’ or ‘I never met the mayor of Fletcher,’” Whiteside said.

The first-term mayor already has reached out to young people by implementing a recognition program in which elementary school students are presented with a Mayor’s Award of Merit for outstanding achievement.

“Anything that I can do to connect with the residents and let the residents know that indeed, there is a mayor there who is concerned and willing to listen,” Whiteside said. “That’s one of the biggest issues on my list.

“The town (is) doing its best to market Fletcher as a business friendly and family friendly area,” he said. “We want businesses and individuals to be a part of Fletcher because of what they’ve seen.”

Stephen Kindland is a freelance writer, photographer and author of an award-winning children’s book titled “I Beg Your Garden, But This Is My Garden!” He can be reached at stephenkindland@gmail.com.

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